The nutty numbers behind Trevor Story’s National League rookie of the month award

Trevor Story of the Rockies hits a two-run triple in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 30. (Jennifer Stewart, Getty Images)

Major League Baseball on Monday named Rockies shortstop Trevor Story the National League rookie of the month. It was also the easiest decision MLB made Monday.

Story has torn into Colorado’s early-season schedule. His 10 homes runs in 22 games was tied for the major-league lead in April, alongside Nolan Arenado, Bryce Harper and Neil Walker. And he collected 20 RBIs.

His power numbers are extra-ordinary. 0f Story’s 24 hits in April 17 went for extra bases (10 HRs, four doubles, three triples). He hit a respectable, but not outstanding, .261 at the plate — and still compiled a 1.019 OPS because of his .324 OBP and .696 slugging percentage.

According to Elias, Story was just the third player since 1900 with at least 17 extra-base hits in the season’s first month. The other two: Joe DiMaggio (23 in 1936) and Albert Pujols (17 in 2001).

Or, as ESPN’s Jayson Stark pointed out, Andrew McCutchen, Joey Votto, Robinson Cano, Adam Jones, David Wright, Evan Longoria and Victor Martinez have never had 10 home runs and 17 extra-base hits in any month. Story did it in his first.

And as Patrick Saunders figured out, Story was the quickest player to reach seven home runs in a career (took him six games) — and his average home run distance is 421 feet, the third-longest mark among MLB players with at least five home runs.

Story’s .324 OBP is remarkable considering his major issue so far. He had 37 strikeouts in April against just
nine walks.

Texas Rangers right fielder Nomar Mazara won the AL rookie of the month award with two HRs, seven RBIs and a .333/.392/.460 slash line.

Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals and Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles won the leagues player of the month awards.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.